Is it possible for an atheist to play the Devil's advocate?

Just playing devil’s advocate here but why wouldn’t an atheist make the best kind?

@rojo . . . I’m thinking about the apostrophe ‘s’ here . . .

I’m an atheist, but say I was in a debate, and asked to argue FOR creation, then I’d have to find valid, plausible things to say, even if I don’t believe in it. Like how the hell is the Big Bang NOT like the idea of creation? Can’t just happen out of nowhere.

Oh but right, semantics…fuck the Devil. For Odin!

“Is it possible for an atheist to play the Devil’s advocate?”

No. But it is possible for the Devil to play the atheist’s advocate.

Sure. It’s just a saying. I ask God to give me strength. And, ask God why He is punishing me.

Certainly. I am, and I often do.

Hans Frank, Hitler’s lawyer, was an atheist.

Not really, because then I would have to use arguments that I know are bunk and of which I know why they are bunk.
In short, I would have to lie to support religion.

It’s possible for anyone to play Devil’s advocate. Even an old theist like me.

Yes because athiests are wrong about the existence of God.

It’s certainly possible for an agnostic to play the “ooh my arse hurts from all this fence sitting” game.

Well if you don’t then you’re not allowed to eat angel food cake. Fair is fair.

@dxs haha, clever one aren’t you?!

@Blondesjon It would take an exceptional Devil’s advocate to be a Devil’s advocate when he doesn’t believe in the Devil. I see no reason why an atheist couldn’t fill that role.

@serenade Yes, but atheists are correct.

@glacial, thanks for ruining the joke. Jerk!

Is the Devil a god?

@ragingloli, a “devil’s advocate” is just someone who takes the opposite side for the sake of the argument. It doesn’t have to do with religion. Often it’s the best way to bring out all sides of a discussion. I do it particularly to test the strength of the side I’m supporting and help it mend its flaws.

I think anyone could take that role, if they were open enough. Not everyone can do it well though.

@serenade That was a joke?

I’m not sure what you’re referring to, but I do separate religion and the notion of god. I can understand why someone would believe in god as an entity to explain the mystery of the universe, but I have a really hard time understanding why any adult would continue to believe in a religion.

@Jeruba I agree. I also think it’s beneficial to sometimes try and argue a point from a side you don’t necessarily believe because it forces you to think about that sides point of view as well, thus leading to you to better understand the whole issue.

I’ve thought about doing that here, on an alt account, just to see if I could do it convincingly. I’m told it wouldn’t be kosher against the “deception” rule.

@Seek_Kolinahr I have like 10 fluther accounts…though I only ever use them once for random jokes…

Yeah. This would be more like me showing up as a completely different person. I’d anyone knew it was me it would ruin it.

<—- just one lowly account.

you know, except the @jonsblond profile . . . .